Burglar and fire alarm signal for telephones



May 5, 1925- 1,536,934 R. H. ROSE BURGLAR AND FIRE ALARM SIGNAL FORTELEPHONES Filed Auz. 25, 1921 2 Sheets-sheaf 1 Fig. 1.

Fig.2.:

Patented May 5 1925.

UNITED STATES RALPH H. ROSE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

BURGLAR AND FIRE ALARM SIGNAL FOR TELEPHONE-9.

Application filed August 25, 1921. .Serial No. 495,225.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, RALPH H. Rose, a citizen of the United States,residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Burglar and Fire AlarmSignals for Telephones; and I hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention relates to burglar and fire alarm apparatus The presentinvention has special reference to an attachment whereby an audiblesignal is automatically transmitted through the ordinary telephone, incase of burglaryor fire, and the device may be used in connection withan ordinary desk telephone apparatus and in connection with any electricburglar alarm or electric fire alarm system. By this invention an alarmwill be automatically telephoned to central or to a police stationthrough the ordinary telephone apparatus in case an electric burglaralarm clrcuit is closed by a burglarious entrance into a buildingequipped therewith or in case an automatic electric fire alarm circuitis closed by fire breaking out in a building equipped therewith. In

particular the invention is designed for use in connection with theburglar and fire alarm apparatus shown in my application filed July th,1921, Serial No. 487,250, but it may be readily used in connection withother electrical burglar alarm systems and other electrical fire alarmsystems and with the ordinary desk telephone receiving and transmittingapparatus.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus adapted tobe connected in with a burglar alarm circuit or fire alarm circuit andto be placed on a table or desk beside the ordinary telephone apparatus,and adapted, in case a circuit is closed through the burglar alarmsystem, orfire alarm system, to elevate the telephone jarnr and toaudibly notify central of theburglary or fire; by automaticallytransmitting through the telephone an audible signal calling attentionto the trouble and the location thereof; the signal being continned orrepeated sufiiciently long to insure that central or police shall befully informed of the situation.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide the apparatus with aphonograph whereby when the apparatus is operated the location of thetrouble and desired assistance will be called orally into the telephonereceiver by the honograph a sufficient number of times to insure centralfully understanding the nature and location of the trouble.

If desired, instead of connecting the wire with central it may betransmitted directly to police headquarters; or both central and policecould be notified through proper connections by the same apparatus.

I will explain apparatus embodying the invention, and illustrate in theaccompanying drawings, to enable others to understand and use the same.The invention, how-ever, is not restricted to the particular form ofapparatus shown 'in the drawings, as it is capable of embodiment invarious forms within the scope of the invention, and therefore I referto the claims for summaries of the essentials of the invention, and ofthe novel features of construction and novel combination of parts forall of which protection is desired.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view of the apparatus in position beside an ordinarytelephone receiving and transmitting apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section through the'apparatus withphonographic audible signal and bell alarm attachment;

and also shows diagrammatically the electrical connections between afire or burglar alarm system and the said device.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4.is a similar section on line 44, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View of an apparatus having only an audible bellsignal, and illustrates diagrammatically the electric connections ofsuch apparatus with aburglar or fire alarm system.

The apparatus comprises a casing 1, which may be of any suitablematerial and of sufiicient size to contain the working arts.

In this casing is a lever 2 whlch may be pivoted in any suitable manner,as at 2! on the side of the casing, and one end of this lever projectsout of the casing through an opening or slot in the front thereof. Thelever 2 is normally held in depressed or substantially horizontalposition as indicated in Fig. 4, but may be moved when released, bysuitably arranged spring means, so as to elevate its outer end, as shownin dotted lines in Fig. 4. As shown a contractile spring 2 is attachedto the lever and to the bottom of the casing. The inner end of the lever2 is normally upheld by a trip lever or catch 3, which has a finger 3 onits upper end adapted to underlie the inner end of the lever 2. Thelever 3 may be pivoted at 3 to the side of the casing. The lower end oflever 3 is shown as pivotally connected by a rod or link 3 to one end ofthe core 4: of a solenoid 4.

The solenoid t is mounted in the casing adjacent the lower end of triplever 3. The core 4: is-normally retracted by a spring 4 as indicated inFig. 3, so as to hold the finger 3 under the lever 2. The oppositeterminals of the solenoid 4 are connected by suitable wirings to a fireor burglar alarm circuit as hereinafter explained, or in other suitablemanner.

The construction is such that when the fire alarm or burglar alarmcircuit is closed a circuit will be also closed through the solenoid 4,which will thereupon cause the core 4. to move and rock the lever 3 sothat finger 8 releases lever 2, whereupon spring 2 depresses the innerend of lever 2 and the outer end thereof is raised and elevates thetelephone receiver, as hereinafter explained.

Mounted in the casing 1 is an audible signal whose sound is to betransmitted through the telephone transmitter when the lever 2 isreleased. The audible signal may be a bell or a phonograph or both. Inthe form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 a phonograph audible signal is used.

As shown the phonograph signal co1nprises an ordinary phonograph record5, which may be of any suitable construction, and is shown as a iskrecord 5, and may .be operated when released, by any suitable springmotor mechanism or any suitable electric motor mechanism (not shown).The particular motor means for operating such phonograph record forms nopart of the present invention.

The disk 5 should have a suitable record made thereon to give thedesired information to central or police headquarters, with wliliclr thetelephone is connected. Such record could be made to call attention tofire or burglary or both and give the location and address of the houseand place where the burglarly or fire occurred, and this record shouldbe repeated a number of times on the disk to insure that central wouldget the correct information and give the desired alarm to the police orfireman.

Cooperating with this disk 5 is a reprodueer 5 which may be of anysuitable ordinary construction mounted on a swingable horn 5 of anysuitable construction, and which connects with a tube 5 the mouth ofwhich connects with an opening 1 in the front side of the casing 1adjacent the projecting end of the lever 2.

A stop device 5 of any suitable construc- 'tion (preferably such as iscommonly employed) is provided to normally prevent rotation of the disk5. As shown in Fig. 2 this stop device is controlled by a lever 5pivoted beside the disk and having a member 5 that preventsu'otation ofthe disk 5 when the lever 2 is in normal position. A spring 5 may beprovided to normally hold the stop lever 5 in position to arrest thedisk 5.

The lever 5 is shown as connected to one end of a cord 5 which runs overa pulley 5 and is attached to the inner end of the lever 2 as indicatedin Figs. 2 and 4 and when the lever 2 is released and its inner end isdepressed by the spring 2" the cord 5 causeswill be audibly reproducedand transmitted 53 through the opening 1".

An audible signal such as an electric bell (3 may be arranged in thecasing 1 and one post of this bell may be connected by a wire 6 to ametal plate 2 attached to the lever 2, and the other post of this bellmay be conn ted by a wire 6 to one pole of a source of lectricity 3 (seeFigs. 2 and 4). \Vhen the lever 2 is released the inner end of the plate2 is adapted to make electrical contact with a member 6 in the casingconnected by a wire 6 to the other pole of the source of electricity 3so that when the lever 2 is dropped an electrical circuit will be closedthrough the bell and the latter will be sounded.

The casing 1 is preferably made of such size that when placed upon atable or stand the ordinary combination telephone transmitting andreceiving apparatus (indicated in dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2) can beplaced beside the casing so that the arm of the telephone apparatus onwhich the receiver R is usually hung will overlie the projecting end ofthe lever 2, (when the latter is in normal position and locked by thetrip-lever 3) and may rest in a notch 2 in the end of the lever 2 asindicated in the drawing; while the mouth of the transmitter T of thetelephone apparatus will be placed directlv against the casing and coverthe opening 1 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The terminals of the solenoid 4 are preferably connected by wires 4, 4*respectively to the wires of the burglar alarm or fire alarm circuit. Inthe drawings I have indicated the wires 4, 4* as being connected with aburglar and fire alarm apparatus such as disclosed in my co-pendingapplication for patent on burglar and lire alarm filed July 25, 1921,Serial No. 487,250. In said apparatus a circuit will be closed from asource of electricity 3 through V the alarm bell 5 5 as indicated in thedrawing and through other visual signal devices (not shown) set forth insaid application but unnecessary to describe herein. The electriccircuits can be readily traced on the drawings.

Preferably the wires 4", 4* are provided with the usual disconnectibleplug and socket (see Figs. 2 and 5) and the wires 6, 6 are provided witha usual disconnectible plug and socket 6 (in Figs. 2 and 5) so that ifit is desired to remove the casing 1 from the telephone apparatus, itcan be readily done by disconnecting the plugs from the sockets; and itcan be readily replaced and connected in the circuit when desired.

Fig. 5 shows a simple form of apparatus in which only an alarm bell 6 isemployed; the electrical connections being diagrammatically illustratedtherein.

As shown in the drawings the wire 4 is connected to the positive wire 3of the burglar or electric alarm circuit and the wire 4* is connected tothe negative wire 5 between the switch 5 and the source of electricity3. The signal bell 5 is connected to one terminal of the source ofelectricity 3 by the wire 5 which connects through switch 5 with wire 5,and also connects by wires 3 and 3 with the other terminal of the sourceof electricity. The burglar and 'fire alarm systems however may be ofany desired construction.

' When by raising a window a burglar alarm circuit 6, which will ring analarm in thecasing 1; and the same movement of the lever 2 through thecord 5", or connections causes the stop lever 5 to release the disk 5,which moves and sounds an oral alarm which is transmitted through thetelephone transmitter.

If the burglar alarm circuit should then be broken by the burglarclosing the window or door the bell 5 5 would cease to ring (asexplained in my said application) but the lever 2 being held down by thespring the audible signals would continue to be transmitted by thephonograph through the telephone transmitter and the-circuit through thebell 6 would remain closed until the signaling is stopped by some personelevating the receiver and resetting the lever 2.

The leads to the solenoid 4 and the bell 6 may be broken or placed inthe circuit as desired by means of the plug and socket connections 4 and6", and the bell 5* may be thrown into or out of circuit by openingswitch 5*.

Where the phonograph audible signal is used the bell may be dispensedwith; or the bell could be located at some place in the electricalcircuit (i -6 where it would not interfere with the phonographtransmission. In other words in some cases the phonograph might beomitted and only the bell used; or in some cases the bell may be omittedand only the phonograph used, or in some cases both may be used.

When a burglar alarm circuit isclosed (or a fire alarm circuit isclosed) as described in my aforesaid application, the lever 2 isautomatically released, the telephone transmitter arm automaticallyraised starting the phonograph and summoning the police or firemanthrough the telephone as above described; also if desired giving anaudible local alarm or hell signal.

If desired the casing might contain two phonographic devices one for aburglar alarm and one for a fire alarm; one phonograph being in circuitwith the burglar alarm system and adapted to give an alarm as abovedescribed when the burglar system circuit is closed; and the other beingconnected with the fire alarm circuit so that if such circuit is closedthe fire alarm will be operated as above described. If both circuits areclosed both phonographs will be operated; The extension horns'from both-the phonographs could connect with the same opening in the casing, sothat only one telephone apparatus would be required.

In the drawings I have only indicated the connections for the bells, asource of electricity, and switch 5", of the burglar and fire alarmshown in my aforesaid application that being sufiicient to enable thepresent invention to be clearly understood.

The phonograph may be operated by a spring motor (not shown) adapted tobe wound by hand as usual only the winding handle being indicated in thedrawing, as the specific construction of the motor and its operatingmechanisms are not part of the present invention.

If an electric motor is used to turn the phonograph disks it could besuitably wired in the circuit in any well known practical way. Any makeof phonograph can be used. When the phonograph is once started it willcontinue to operate or play the record thereon until it runs down or isstopped by some one.

By opening switch 5 all current would be passed through wire 4" totelephone alarm fixture and the bells and lights of my aforesaid burglarand fire alarm apparatus application would be cut out leaving the signalattachment in operative condition.

IVhat I claim is: i

1. In apparatus of the character specified, a casing adjacent anordinary telephone receiving and transmitting apparatus and having anopening therein registering with the transmitting apparatus; a leverpivoted in the casing and having a portion projecting out of the casingand underlying the hook of the receiving apparatus; an audible signalapparatus within thecasing; and means in the casing for normally holdingthe outer end of said lever depressed, said means being connected in anormally open electric alarm circuit, whereby when said circuit isclosed said means is released permitting the receiver hook to raise, andcausing an audible signal to be transmitted through the opening in thecasing directly into the transmitter apparatus.

2. In apparatus as set forth in claim 1, said audible signal comprisinga phonograph within the casing having a horn leading directly to theopening in the side of said casing, and means controlled by said leverwhereby said phonograph is held inoperative when the said member is innormal position, and whereby the phonograph is permitted to operate whenthe said member is released.

3. A signal apparatus, comprising a casing, a lever pivoted in thecasing having one end projecting outside of the casing, a spring in thecasing for rocking said lever, a pivoted trip for holding the outer endof the lever in normal depressed position, electrical means for causingthe trip to release the lever; an audible signal within the casing,means for holding said signal inactive when the lever is in normalposition, and for actuating the signal when the lever is released, andconnections between the said trip controlling means and a normally'openelectric alarm circuit; said casing being placed beside an ordinary desktelephone fixture with the projecting end of the lever underlying thetelephone receiver hook, whereby when the alarm circuit is closed thesaid lever is automatically released littin the telephone receiver andan'audible signaIwill bethereby transmitted directly through the openingin the easing into the telephone transmitter, substantially asdescribed.

4. In an apparatus as set forth in claim 3, said audible signalcomprising a phonograph within the casing having a sound conducting hornleading directly to an opening in said casing registering with thetelephone transmitter, and means controlled by said lever whereby saidphonograph is held inoperative when the said lever is in normalposition,

and whereby said phono raph is permitted to operate when the sai leveris released.

5. In an apparatus of the character specified, a casing placed beside anordinary desk telephone fixture; a lever pivoted in the casing, andhaving one end projecting out of the casing and adapted to underlie thetelephone receiver hook when said lcvcr is in normal position; a springin the casing normally tending to raise the projectingend of the lever;a trip in the casing adapted to hold the lever in normal positionagainst the action of said spring, an electromagnet for releasing thetrip; a phonograph in the casing havlng a sound conducting horn registering with the telephone transmitter through an opening in the side ofthe casing; means connected to said lever for holding the phonographinactive when the lever is in normal position, and for actuating thephonograph when said lever is released; and electrical connectionsbetween the said electromagnet and a normally open electric alarmcircuit whereby when the alarm circuit is closed the e-lectromagnet willactuate said trip to release said lever, the telephone receiver will beelevated, and the phonograph will be actuated, to transmit an au cliblesignal through the telephone transmitter, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus of the character specified, a casing having anopening in one side registering with the transmitter of a tele phoneapparatus, a lever pivoted in the casing having one end projecting outof the casing and underlying the receiver hook when said lever is innormal position; a spring in the casing tending to raise the projectingend of said lever; a trip in the casing for holding the outer end of thelever in normal depressed position against the action of said spring, anelectro-magnet for releasing the trip; a phonograph in the casing havinga horn registering directly with the opening in the side of the casing;means for holding the phonograph inactive; a connection between saidmeans and the lever whereby when the phonograph is released the protruding end of the lever is raised; and electrical connections betweenthe said electromagnet and a normally closed electric alarm circuitwhereby when said alarm circuit is closed the magnet actuates said tripto release said lever, the telephone receiver is elevated, thephonograph is actuated, and an audible signal is transmitted through theopening in the easing into the telephone transmltter, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I atiix my signature.

RALPH H. ROSE.

